Car-coupling



(No Mdel.)

J. M. VAUGHN.

GAR GOUPLING.

y Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

www@ Y, @7%

WZZWESSE'S.' d( f @il/Mh Zorneyl; n

UNITED STATES PATENT @einen JAMES MARIAN' VAUGHN, OF WATER VALLEY,KENTUCKY.

cAR-couPLxNe.

SFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,275, dated April 8,1890.

Application filed September 14,1889. Serial No.323,908. (No model.)

same, reference being had to the accompany.

ing drawings, which forni a part of this specication, and in which-Figure l is a perspective view of a drawhead fitted with my coupling,the greater part of the draw-bars being broken away. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical sectional View of a pair of the same, and Fig. 3is a perspective detail view of one of the couplings detached from thedraw-head.

This invention relates to carcouplings, having reference particularly tothat class of couplings employing a link and spring-actuated hook ortongue.

My object is to provide a compact coupling of this class composed of fewparts, said parts being of simple construction, strong, and so arrangedas to be easily adjusted.

My device is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which likeletters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures. l

The letters A designate the draw-heads,

which are preferably rectangular in crosssection. Near the top of saiddraw-head is placed a horizontal shaft B, one end of which is providedwith a handle C. The other end of the shaft is furnished with a wash erD, and is perforated for the insertion of a key for retaining said shaftin the draw-head, and also for the insertion of one end of the springhereinafter described. Near the center of the shaft and within thedraw-head is placed the tongue E, adjustable on said shaft and fixed asadjusted by means of the set-screw e.

The spring F has one end inserted in the perforation of the shaft B,before referred to. The spring is then bent, as shown in the drawings,and has its other end retained by a staple or guide f. The handle C hasa notch c, and a button or latch Gr is fastened tothe top of thedrawfhead in such a position that it can be made to catch in said notchwhen the handle is pressed forward. The draw-head is also provided withthe link-guide H, having a handle 7i upon each side. The link used inconnection with my coupling is of the ordinary construction, andtherefore needs no particular description.

The operation. and advantages of my invention are, brieiiy stated, asfollows: The tongue E is raised by pressing the handle C forward, andthus a link may be inserted in either of the draw-heads, or the tongueis pressed back by simply shoving the link against it. The spring AFbrings the handle back and the tongue down, so as to retain the linkwhenever the handle is released. Vhen the link has thus been placed inone of the draw-heads, the cars are ready for coupling, andV by comingtogether with the usual force the other end of the link strikes thetongue in the corresponding coupling of the other car and raises thetongue sufficiently to slide.

in. ln some eases it may be necessary to guide or raise the linkslightly, in order to insure its entrance into the draw-head. This isdone by means of the link-guide Irl, which is operated by means ofeither of its handles h.

Itis often desirable in switching cars to have the couplings so arrangedthat they may come together without fastening. For this purpose I employthe latch Gr, hereinbefore described, and by pressing the handle C for-Ward and detaining it with the latch the tongue E is raised, so that thelink may pass in and out without being detained.

lt will be seen that the spring by Which the tongue is brought down issimply a steel rod bent into the proper` shape, and that it is where itcan be replaced or repaired easily in case it fails to Work. lBy makingthe tongue IOO latch for holding said handle forward, substantially asshown.

2. The combination, in a car-coupling of the class described, of thedraw-heads having perforations, as shown, the shaft inserted throughsaid perforations and having a notched handle at one end and aperforation at the other end, a latch adapted to engage said notch inthe handle, the tongue, coupvIO ling-pin, an exterior spring having oneend inserted in the perforation of the shaft, and

